Device for facilitating bending of sails to spars



D. M. MYERS 9 DEVICE FOR FACILITATING BENDING OF SAILS TO SPARS I May 20, 1941.

Filed Nov. 16, 1939 ill 5 vvvv Z INVENTOR. 0A v/o Mar/A TMYf/PS BY ATTORNEY.

Patented May 20, 1941 UNETED ATENT OF FlC E David Moiifat Myers, Larchmont, N. Y. Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,691

11 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in means for detachably connecting sails of sailing vessels to spars and the like thereof as by means of slides attached to the luff or foot of the sail and designed to ride over a track fixed to a spar.

The invention has for an object to provide an inexpensive means to facilitate the bending of sails onto spars of yachts and other vessels employing the slide and track method of attachment, and particularly to prevent a sail when lowered from falling away into the boat by disengagement of the slide from the mast track.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the slides may nevertheless be easily and quickly detached from the track when so desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a guide and automatic stop means for the slides whereby the time required for bending a sail onto its spar is materially reduced and the sail is permitted to be lowered and raised as desired without again necessitating bending the sail to its mast.

In carrying out the invention, there is associated with a track, longitudinally disposed along a spar and over which slides attached to the luff or foot of the sail are designed to ride, a guide trough of substantially U-shaped section. This trough is preferably flared at the entrance end to conveniently admit and guide a slide, and at its opposite end the bottom of the trough is notched to embrace a portion of the associated track section for proper alignment of the trough therewith, the thickness of the bottom of the trough and the width of the channel being such as to guide a sail slide when moved through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track.

When utilized with a vertically disposed track, as in connection with the raising or lowering of a sail on its mast, provision is made to prevent the sail when it is lowered from falling away into the boat as a result of the disengagement of the slides from the mast track and travel through the guide. This may be accomplished by associating with the trough member an automatic and releasable stop, for example, by providing a plate element beneath the trough to be secured with the latter to the mast, and pivoting on said plate element a spring-urged detent member directed by the spring normally into the path of a slide on its track. This detent, however, is readily movable in the opposite direction by a slide when inserted in the trough and moved upon the track past the detent. When it is desired to remove the slides from the track, this is accomplished manually by exerting pressure with ones finger on the opposite end of the detent which will cause its stop end to swing out of the path of movement of the slides on the lower end of the track and allow of their release therefrom and: through the trough;

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when describedin connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing a sail attached to a mast and boom in the usual manner by means of sail slides, and also the tracks upon which the slides operate, together with the novel attachment.

Fig. 2 is'an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the'lo-wer or tack end of the track with slides and the novel guide and stop member associated therewith.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof with the mast to which the device is attached shown in transverse section.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the device, track and slide, and taken on the line 4--4, Fig. 2

of the drawing, with lower slide removed.

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views-respectively of the trough element of the novel device and of the stop or detent element which may be associated therewith.

Referring to the rawing, more particularly Fig. 1 thereof, l0 designates the mast and II the boom of a sailboat (not shown) and carrying the sail 12 which is bent thereto through the wellknown slide and track arrangement indicated. The tracks l3 and slides l iare shown more clearly in Figs. 2 to 4, the track being channelshaped with lateral top flanges on which ride the inturned sides of the slide member, as is well understood, and noclaim is made to this construction and mode of attachment.

The present invention is concerned more especially with means for facilitating the mounting of a slide upon the track and to prevent the sail when it is lowered from falling away into the boat through running off of the slide from the lower end of the track- To this end, there is associated with the lower or tack end of the mast track and the inner end of the boom track guide troughs 20 in the form of a channel or substantially U-shaped member which is preferably flared at the entrance end 21, as shown, for more ready admission of a slide.

At its opposite end, the bottom ofthe trough is notched as at 22' in the longitudinal axis of the same to locate positively in proper alignment the trough about the contiguous inner end of the bottom portion of the track with which it is to be associated. The thickness of the bottom, moreover, is made such that the slides when travelling through the trough will be guided accurately over and onto the lateral flanges of the track. It is necessary, therefore, in threading the slides on the rail or track merely to introduce them at the flared end or through the open top and move them along until all are located. The guide trough is conveniently attached to a spar by screws 23.

In thecase of a mast, it is desirable to provide means for preventing falling away into the boat of these slides when the sail is v this end a stop member is provided to project into the path of travel of the slides at the-lower end of the track. For example, there may be as-;

sociated with the trough member a: plate element designed to fit beneath the same and to be attached with it to the mast I0, as-bymeans of the said screws 23. This plate has pivoted at an upper corner, as at 26, a pawlor detent member 21 whichextends beyond the end of the inner end of the trough and plate element and is springurged by means ofa fiat spring 28 toward and against a side edge of a flange of the track into the pathof travel of the slides thereon. This spring may conveniently be fixed to the opposite portion of the detent member with its free portion riding against the adjacent wall of the trough, as shown. To release the slides from the mast-track, the detent is moved to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, to clear the path of travel of the slides. I

To allow of accommodating the plate element 25 with the trough in locating the same with reference to the inner end of the track, the plate 25 is similarly provided with a notch 29 extending inwardly from the inner edge of the plate and coaxially with notch 22 of the trough so that both the trough and plate can pass the screw 30 of the track. The correct position of plate 25 relative to trough and sail track is provided by screw holes 3| in the plate 25Vmatching similar screw holes 32 in the trough. In order that the inner end of plate 25 may not interfere with the lowest screw in the mast track, said plate is provided with the notch aforesaid at its inner edge to accommodate said screw.

I claim: v

.1. A guide trough for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spar, comprising an open-ended, substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and notched at one end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, and means to secure the bottom of the channel member to the spar, said bottom being of a thickness and width to raise and align a sail slide with respect to the said track so as to guide the same through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track.

2. A guide trough for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spar, comprising an openended, substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and flared at one end and notched at the opposite end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, and means to secure the bottom of the channel member to the spar, said bottom being of a thickness and width to raise and align a sail slide with respect to the said track so as to guide the same through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track. 3. A guide trough for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spar, comprising an openlowered; and to ended, substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and completely open at the top and notched at one end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, and means to secure the bottom of the channel member to the spar, said bottom being of a thickness and width to raise and align a sail slide with respect to the said track so as to guide the same throughthe trough definitely and accurately onto the track.

4. A guide trough and stop for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spar and unobstructed at its tack end to secure. a slide, comprising an open-ended, substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and notched at one end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, and means to secure the bottom of the channel member to the spar, said bottom being of a width to raise and align a sail slide with respect tothe said track so as to guide the same through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track, together with a releasable automatic stop element associated with the inner end of the trough and projecting normally into the path of travel of a slide along the track.

5. A guide trough and stop for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spar and unobstructed at its tack end to receive a slide, comprising an open-ended, substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and notched at one end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, and means to secure the bottom of the channel member tothe spar, said bottom being of a width to raise and align a sail slide with respect to the said track so as to guide the same through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track, together with a releasable springurged detent element associated with the inner end of the trough and projecting normally into the path of travel of a slide along the track.

6. A guide trough and stop for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spar and unobstructed at its tack end'to receive a slide, comprising an open-ended; substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and notched at one end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, and means to secure the bottom of the channel member to the spar, said bottom being of a width to raise and align a sail slide with respect to the said track so as to guide the same 4 through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track, together with a releasable stop element detachably associated with the inner end of the trough and projecting normally into the path of travel of a slide along the track.

7. A guide trough and stop for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spa-r and unobstructed at its tack end to receive a slide, comprising an open-ended, substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and notched at one end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, the bottom of the trough being of a width to raise and align a sail slide with respect to the said track so as to guide the same through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track, together with a plate fitting beneath the trough, means to secure the bottom of the trough and plate to a spar, a detent pivoted on said plate, anda spring mounted to engage the trough and carried by the detent member to urge the latter normally into the path of travel of a slide on the track.

8. A guide trough and stop for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spar and unobstructed at its tack end to receive a slide, comprising an open-ended, substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and notched at one end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, the bottom of the trough being of a Width to raise and align a sail slide with respect to the said track so as to guide the same through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track, together with a, plate fitting beneath the trough, said plate and trough having registrable fastening openings, means to secure the bottom of the trough and plate to a spar, a detent pivoted on said plate, and a spring mounted between a wall of the trough and the detent memher to urge the latter normally into the path of travel of a slide on the track.

9. A guide trough and stop for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spar and unobstructed at its tack end to receive a slide, comprising an open-ended, substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and notched at one end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, the bottom of the trough being of a width to raise and align a sail slide with respect to the said track so as to guide the same through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track, together with a plate fitting beneath the trough, means to secure the bottom of the trough and plate to a spar, a detent pivoted on said plate, and a spring mounted between a wall of the trough and the detent member to urge the latter normally into the path of travel of a slide on the track.

10. A guide trough and stop for sail slides movable over a track secured along a spar and unobstructed at its tack end toreceive a slide, comprising an open-ended, substantially U-shape channel adapted for permanent attachment to the spar and notched at one end to embrace a portion of the tack end of the track for a short distance, the bottom of the trough being of a width to raise and align a sail slide with respect to the said track so as to guide the same through the trough definitely and accurately onto the track, together with a plate fitting beneath the trough and slotted inwardly from its inner edge coaxially with the not-ch of the trough, means to secure the bottom of the trough and plate to a spar, a detent pivoted on said plate, and a spring mounted between a Wall of the trough and the detent member to urge the latter normally into the path of travel of a slide on the track.

11. An automatic stop for sail slides movable over a flanged track unobstructed at its tack end to receive a slide, comprising a pivoted detent member adapted to be secured in proximity to the said tack end of the track, and resilient means normally urging the detent member toward and against the side edge of a flange of the track into the path of travel of a slide thereon to prevent the latter from falling off the said tack end of the track.

DAVID MOFFA'I MYERS. 

